Hello golfers,

Wow what a Ryder Cup that was, I've honestly never seen so much good golf by so many players as I did in the first two hours of the Sunday singles! Ok, yes the course was set up easy, short rough, pin positions in the middle of greens on flat areas, but even still that was something else! The American team were deserved winners, the course set up played in to their hands and, as is always crucial to win any golf tournament, they out putted us! In regards to our European team, too many of our team were not in good form at the time of the Ryder Cup, in fact quite a lot of them had good springs and early summers but nothing since, which would suggest our qualifying process maybe slightly wrong. It's not a time to panic as it's out first loss for eight years, but I think we should weigh the more recent tournaments more heavily with qualifying points so that we get the form players in the side i.e. Thomas Pieters and Rory Mcilroy who both did superbly well! Anyway, four Europeans that are happy despite the result are four of our members who won the pro shop sweepstake! Stuart Pearce drew Davis Love and as the Winning Captain, he won £60 for his account. Keith Wright drew Thomas Pieters as the European top points scorer so he won £60 on his account. Justin Nicholls drew Patrick Reed as the USA top points scorer so he won £60 on his account and Matt Gee drew the correct score, 17 - 11 USA, so he won £60 on to his account. Many thanks for your support to all those who purchased a square.

 

Pro/Captain Finals Day

Talking of support, it's great to see so many of you have entered my Pro's Day, or the Pro/Captain Challenge Finals Day as it is now called, this Saturday, I have some great prizes up for grabs. The draw for tees will be made Friday morning. If you would still like to play, I still have a few spaces left so give me call.

 

Titleist 917 Range

Last Thursday I was fortunate to try the new Titleist 917 equipment in the Swing Zone and I have to say I was mightily impressed. I found I was 5-10 longer than my current Titleist 915 driver with the good shots, but it was the off-centre hits that really impressed me. With the 915 driver if I caught the shot a bit out of the heel of the club, I would probably lose about 15 yards off the shot, but with the new 917 I was only losing 5 yards and as you all keep hearing me say "it's not how good your good shots are its how good your bad shots are" so this will probably be heading in to my bag. To coincide with the launch of the new Titleist 917 drivers and woods coming on Friday, 21 October I'm having a small launch event on Saturday, 22 October from 11.00am - 1.00pm.

If anyone would like to try the new clubs please contact me here and I'll book you in for a half hour fitting. I only have four spaces available for this event, so please book ASAP and be one of the first in the country to try the new Titleist 917 equipment!

 

Lynx Fitting Day

Tomorrow, Friday, we have the Lynx Fitting Day with several spaces left if you would like to come try, and have fitted, their latest equipment. Again give me a call if you would like to come down, it will be between 11am - 3pm.

 

On the Course...

Ok on to competition news now and we'll start with last Thursday's Mid-week Stableford and a win for Chris Beare in Division One with 40 points, in second came Kelvin Gillies, who happened to mention to me his game has improved greatly since his driver fitting last month, with 39 points and Ray Thomson third with 38. In Division Two Keith Newbury continues to improve by winning the division with 41 points with Nick Calver in second with 38 and Ashley Harrison third with 37 points.

Saturday we had the latest Roll-up Stableford which was won by Kevin Whiteley, fresh off a lesson two weeks ago and an iron fitting last month, with a superb 44 points! Tony Cater pipped four other players on countback to claim second with 39 points.

Sunday we had the Ken Gough Trophies which is a fourball betterball bogey competition. Dave and Jack Butcher claimed the win with a score of 7up over the course in really windy conditions! Lee Chapman and Ray Thomson beat Dave and Ray Henwood and Andy Browne and Ray Pope on countback to claim second, all with a score of 4up over the course.

On Monday Angus Smith won the Seniors' Three Score Year and Ten Cup with a nett score of 34.34.